Folding machine and method of folding



ct. 29, 1935. f P. l.. oDoNNEl L 2,018,866

FOLDING MACHINE AND METHOD :0F FOLDING Filed Nov. 8, 1928 `2 Sheets-Sheet 1 EN TOR.

A TTORNEYS,

Odi. 29, 1935. P, `01D0NNE| n 2,018,866

FOLDING MACHINE AND METHOD OF FOLDING Filed Nov. 8, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 JNVENTOR.

A TTORNEY` W//f/ /77/// l l@ STATES FOLDING MACHINE AND METHOD F FOLDING Philip L. ODonnell, Norwood, Ohio Application November 8, 1928, Serial No. 318,005

30 Claims.

In my co-pending application Serial No. 253,700,

filed February 11, 1928, I have disclosed a process for applying French binding to shoes winch, broadly speaking, consists in providing a strip of binding having a partially coated band and securing this strip to a shoe by stitching an uncoated portion of the binding to the shoe and then heating the shoe and rmly pressing the coated portion against a surface of the shoe. Further in my co-pending application Serial No. 253,701, led February 11, 1928, I have described a novel method of applying heat plastic adhesive in a narrow band to a strip of binding material. It is the object of my invention, as disclosed herein, to apply French binding, such as has been described in my latter application, in a particular way to a shoe and to heat the adhesive portion of the bindis heated, there is danger of damage to the leather. If, on the other hand, parts of a folding machine are heated, the binding tends to stick. By the use of a blast of heated air, surprising results are obtained, and the binding can thereafter be applied very ecaciously. l

The process of heating the adhesive portion of the binding with a blast of hot air, and a folding machine with which means for heating and 'discharging the heated blast in a particular manner is combined, constitute the subject matter of this invention.

Referring to the drawings in which I have illustrated a preferred type of folding machine showing my improvements :1

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a folding ma chine having a preferred formof air blast heater incorporated therewith'. e

e 2 is a sectional view of a preferred type of heater.

Figure 3 is a sectional View of a modified type of heater.

Figure d is an enlarged side elevation of the folding mechanism illustrated in Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a still further enlarged side elevation of the folding mechanism illustrated in Figure l.

Figure'S is a side elevation of a shoe upper having a strip of binding stitched but not cemented to the shoe.

Figure 6A is a plan view of a type of binding which I find adaptable for my new process. The particular machine illustrated herein,

which represents one type of folding machine with which I may incorporate my invention, is disclosed in the Glass Patents Nos. 1,281,555 and 1,281,556, of October 15, 1918. 'l'he machine has 10 a supporting base I from which an arm 2, which houses the shuttle mechanism for advancing the work, extends. The work, which in this instance is a shoe upper, is placed on the end of the arm 2 and is fed along with the shuttle mechanism just as in a sewing machine. A guide pin 3 creases the French binding and guides it. The guide pin will usually be of suiiicient length to bear against the tape or binding along its median line where there will not be any cement, so that there will be nog() tendency for the pin to causethc binding to stick to it. A forked folding linger t, during the movement of the work through the machine, reciprocates back and forth and folds over the binding. A knurled roller 5, as is indicated in Figure 4, prevents-the work from slipping.

There is a plate or anvil 6 which supports the bound edges of the work against the pressure of a hammer l which comes down on the work and presses the adhesive coated binding into rm engagement with the work.

For heating the adhesive coated band I have provided in the preferred modifications shown in Figures l and 2, a conduit 8 through which air is forced from a blower 9 which may be operated by 35 an electric motor I0. There is a bushing II in the conduit 8 from which an air blast pipe IZ extends. The air blast pipe passes through an electrical resistance unit I3 provided with current as from the power feed lines I4 and I5. A 40 casing I6 surrounds the resistance unit, and it maybe insulated with wraps of insulative material such as is indicated at Il. The end of the blast pipe is curved downwardly, as indicated at I2a, and directed in such manner that just prior 45 to the folding over operation of the machine the adhesive is warmed suiliciently so that it will stick when pressed firmly down.

In Figure 3 I have illustrated another type of air heater consisting of a casing I8 Within which 50 is a resistance unit I9 heated by the power feed lines Ita, I5a. The air conduit is indicated at 8a and the air blast pipe extending from the casing is indicated at |22.

In Figures 4 to 6 I have shown a shoe upper 20 55 to which heat plastic adhesive binding 2i has been stitched being fed through the machine. In Figure 6 I have shown a plan view of a shoe upper 20 to which the adhesive binding 2i has been stitched. In both figures the heat plastic band of cement is indicated at 2 la.

The irst step of attaching the French cord to the shoe upper produces a product such as is shown in Fig. 32 of British Patent 189,503 of November 24, 1922; Fig. 5 of Williamson Patent 1,850,979, and in Fig. 10 of Evans Patent 1,618,754.

An operator then manually turns or bends the edge of the French cord, at one end of the combined upper and French cord/,to a position extending beyond the edge of the upper, as shown in Fig. 6 of Ridderstrom Patent 1,694,796 and feeds the upper and French cord into the folding machine and at that time, the hot air blast flows upon the adhesive. The folding machine folding finger 4 turns the French cord upwardly at about a right angle to the upper 20 and then as the upper is progressively fed past the folding instrumentalities of the machine, the French cord is turned back over and is pressed down on the upper to produce a finished product such as is shown in Fig. 4 of Ridderstrom Patent 1,694,796. In Fig` 4 hereof, the upper 20 and binding are shown bent downwardly from the table or work supporting part 2 of the French folder. In actual practice, the work is not bent into such a position, however, the operator does rst bend the margin of the French cord to effect an initial fold to substantially the position shown in Fig. 6 of Ridderstrom Patent 1,694,796. Then the hot air blast renders the adhesive tacky and the folding machine completes the job of folding as previously explained and as particularly set forth in the appended claims of which claim 11 is typical.

Modifications in the machines with which I carry out my process will readily occur to those skilled in the art, as will also modifications in the particular steps of heating the binding With a hot blast of air or other gas, but insofar as the variation in process and apparatus does not de part from the broad principle involved, I consider such modifications within the scope of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:-

1. The steps in the process of applying French binding to shoe parts which consists in heating with a blast of heated gas, a heat plastic portion of a strip of binding which has been attached to a shoe part, and then folding over and attaching the portion thus rendered adhesive.

2. The steps in the process of applying French binding to shoe parts which consists in heating with a blast of heated gas, a heat plastic portion of a strip of binding which has been attached to a shoe part, and then folding over and attaching the portion thus rendered adhesive, the heating blast being directed progressively to portions of the binding immediately prior to the application thereof to the shoe.

3. In combination with the process of applying French binding having heat plastic adhesive thereon to shoe portions, the step which consists in directing a blast of heated gas at the heat plastic portion of the binding shortly before its application to the shoe.

4. The steps in the process of applying partially adhesive coated binding to shoe parts which consists in heating with hot gas directed upon work.

atrasos the coated portion of a strip of binding which has been attached to a shoe and then pressing down the coated portion to cause it to adhere to the shoe part.

5. In the process of applying French binding 5 to a shoe part which consists in coating a strip of binding with a band of heat plastic adhesive and then securing an uncoated portion of the binding to the shoe, the step which consists in directing a blast of heated gas against the coated 10 portion of the binding before its application to the shoe part.

6. In the process of applying French binding to a shoe part which consists in coating a strip of binding with a band of heat plastic adhesive 15 and then securing an uncoated portion of the binding to the shoe, the step which consists in directing a blast of heated gas against the coated portion of the binding and then folding over the means for directing said blast at a position close 30.l

to the folding mechanism in said machine.

9. In combination with a French folding ma.- chine having folding mechanism and a position with relation thereto reached by work Just prior to its arrival at said folding mechanism, means 35j for directing a blast of heated gas toward said position. A

10. Incombination with a French folding machine having folding mechanism and a position with relation thereto reached by Work just prior 40.

to its arrival at said folding mechanism, and means for directing a blast of heated gas toward said position, said means operable continuously during the operation of said machine.

11. The method of folding a flexible piece of 45.,

work which comprises coating a margin thereof with a cement which is normally not sticky but may be rendered sticky by application of a softening agent, progressively bending the margin to form a fold, applying a stream of softening me- 5o.

dium directly to the coating of cement on the bent margin, and thereafter progressively pressing the bent margin upon the body portion of the l 12. The method of flexible piece of work over upon a face of the work which comprises coating a margin thereof with a cement which is normally not sticky but may be rendered sticky by the application of heat, progressively bending the margin to form a 60:

fold, applying a gaseous heat stream directly to that face of the work against which the bent margin is to be pressed, and progressively pressing the margin upon the heated body portion of the work. 65

13. 'I'he method of treating a piece of sheet material which comprises attaching to the margin of the material a binding strip adapted to be folded over upon a face of the sheet material, said strip having upon part or all of one side thereof a 70'.

coating of cement which is normally not sticky but may be rendered sticky by the application oi' heat, progressively bending the strip -about the edge of the sheet material to form a fold, ap-

plying a heated 'stream of gaseous medium di- 751 folding the margin of a .11

rectly to that face of the sheet material against which the strip is to be pressed, and progressively pressing the folded strip upon the margin of the sheet material.

' 14. A machine for operating upon a piece of work, which is provided, along its margin, with a band of cement adapted to be rendered sticky by the application of heat, having in combination a support for the work, means for progressively bending the margin to form a 4fold, means for applying a heated gaseous blast directvly to that side of the bent margin which carries -to that face of the work against which the bent margin is to be pressed, and means for progressivelypressing the bent margin upon the body portion of the work.

16. The method offolding a flexible piece of work comprising a piece of material to which it attached a binding strip coated with a cement which is normally not sticky but may be rendered sticky by the application of heat, said method consisting in progressively bending the strip about the edge of the material, progressively applying a stream of heated gaseous medium directly to the coating of cement on the bent strip and progressively pressing the bent strip down upon the material.

17. The method of treating a piece of sheet material which comprises attaching to the `margin of the material a binding strip adapted to be folded over upon a face of the sheet material, said material having upon part or all of one side thereof a coating of cement which is'normally not sticky but which may be rendered sticky by the application of heat, progressively applying a stream of hot gaseous medium to the coated strip, and then progressively folding over the strip and pressing the strip upon the margin of the sheet material.

18. The method of applying French binding to the edge of sheet material such as shoe uppers and the like which comprises stitching to the margin of the sheet material a French binding tape, the tape having on one face a coating of heat plastic adhesive, the other face of said tape initially lying completely on the outer face of the sheet material with an edge of the material and the tape substantially coincident, the stitch- --ing extending ,closely adjacent said coincident edges, then submitting the material with the tape stitched thereto to a French folding mechanism for progressively folding the tape about the edge of the sheet material whereby to dispose the free edge of the tape upon the opposite face of the sheet material, the adhesive side of the tape being then disposed upon said opposite face of the sheet material and progressively directing a heated gas to the adhesive face of the tape just prior to the actual folding of the tape by the folding mechanism.

19. In combination with a French folder of a source of heated gas under pressure and a nozzlefordirectingahlastoftheheatedgasimmediately adjacent and substantially within the line of operation of the folding mechanism.

20. That improvement in methods of securing a binding coated with meltable adhesive to the edge of a shoe upper, which consists in sewing 5 one edge of the binding to the edge portion of the upper, blowing a hot gaseous fluid against the adhesively coated surface of said binding and thereby rendering said coating tacky, folding the binding over the edge ofsaid upper and 10 against the margin thereof and, while said coating is still tacky, pressing said tacky surface against said margin.

21. That improvement in methods of securing a 4binding coated with meltable adhesive to the 15 edge of a shoe upper, which consists in sewing one edge of the binding to the edge portion of the upper, blowing hot air against the adhesively coated surface of said binding and thereby rendering said coating tacky, feeding said binding 20 past the point of application of the hot air thereto, and during said feeding operation and while said adhesive is still tacky, folding the binding over the edge of said upper and pressing the tacky surface ofthe binding against the margin 25 of the upper.

22. That improvement in methods of securing a binding strip coated with a meltable adhesive to the edge of a shoe upper, which consists in fastening one edge of the binding to the margin 30 of the upper, blowing a hot gaseous iiuid against the adhesive coating on the surface of said binding, feeding'the edge of the shoe upper and the binding past the point at which the said iiuid is directed against said coating and thereby progressively rendering said coating tacky, and progressively folding the binding over the edge of said upper and pressing it down upon the margin thereof as successive portions of the coating become tacky.

23. In a machine for folding a strip of edge binding material coated with a meltable adhesive about the edge of a shoe upper, or the like, comprising, in combination, folding devices for acting on said strip to fold it across the edge and 45 to press it down upon the margin of the upper, means for feeding the work past said devices, and means for directing a current of hot gaseous fluid against the adhesive coating on said binding while it is being so fed to render said coat- 50 ing tacky for the operation thereon of said devices.

24. In combination a. series of cooperating elements for folding a tape about the edge of material, and means for applying a gaseous stream 55 of heat to the tape as such tape and material come under the influence of said cooperating elements.

25. In a. device of the class described the combination of means for folding a tape longitudinally over the edge of material to which it is attached, guide means for directing the material and tape relative to said folding means, and means directionally projecting a hot gaseous stream for heating the tape as it passes over the guide means.

26. The method of edge binding with tape comprising stitching the tape, which has been previously impregnated with heat plastic adhesive, adjacent an edge of material to be bound, then feeding the material, with the ,tape thus attached, to suitable folding means, and directing a gaseous stream of heat to the tape prior to the action of the folding means on said tape and material.

iov

27. The method of Aedge bindingshoe uppers and the like comprising sewing to such an upper or the like a piece of binding tape impregnated with heat binding adhesive, then heating the tape with a stream of heated air to 'render the adhesive tacky then folding thetape-about an edge of the upper, and pressing the adhesive tacky surface of the tape on the upper while theadhesiveisstillinalkystate.

28. That improvement in methods of securing a binding coated with meltable'adhesive to an article -of work which consists in sewing one edge of the to the article, blowing a hot Y gaseous fluid against the adhesively coated'sm'- face of said .binding and thereby rendering said coating tacky, and pressing said adhesively coated surface against said article while the adhesive is still taclw.

29. In a machine of thejcharacter described, the combination of means for folding a strip of sheet material coated with-a meltable adhesive about an article-of work, and means for forcing heated air from a source of supply against said coated'surface .to render said adhesive tacky preparatory to the action of said folding and meanson the strip. 30. The method of applying a nontacky adhesively coated French binding strip to a shoe i0 upper-which comprises theV steps of stitching an edge -of .the strip to the edge of the upper, folding the strip with 'the coated side up, then directing a blast of-softening medium to said turned coated side of the strip, and then press- 15,;

ing the' surfaces together to effect adhesion thereof.

PHILIP L. O'DONNELL (Seal) CERTIFICATE 0F CORRECTION.

Patent No. 2,018,866: October 29, 1955.

.PHILIP L. C'DONNELL.

It -is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring Correction as follows: Page 2, first column. line 75, claim 4 strike out the word "hot"; page 3, firs'tI Column, line 30, Claim 16, for it" read is; and that the said Letters Patent should be read wit these corrections therein that the same may Conform to the record of the Case i the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 21st day of January, A. D. 1936.

Leslie Frazer Acting Commissioner of Patents. 

